This Is what Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google know about you

In order to better protect yourself from data breaches, here’s what these five companies know about you and how you can manage it.

Photo: Edith Soto via Flickr

While you’re checking your Facebook notifications on your Apple iPhone during an episode of “Black Mirror” on Netflix and Googling when the next season begins before buying a new phone case on Amazon, these five tech companies are collecting all of your personal data.

In 2018, numerous data breaches opened our eyes to just how much of our personal information is really out there on the internet. But it’s hard to know exactly what Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google really know about us when there are so many layers to each one of them. Collectively, these companies are known as “FAANG” and they know more about you than you think they do. And the sad thing is that even though they’re collecting our personal data every day, it’s hard to imagine a life without them. So in order to better protect yourself from data breaches, here’s what these five companies know about you and how you can manage it.

Facebook

After Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, the social media site made a few changes to what users can and cannot do on the platform. Now, you can access and download all of your personal information and activity on Facebook. This includes your:

To find this information, go to your Facebook settings and click “Your Facebook Information.” Here, you can access, download, manage and delete your account and information. Depending on your privacy settings, some of this information may be blank while others might include years’ worth of data. You can read all about what Facebook collects on the company’s Data Privacy page.

Amazon

As you might expect, Amazon has a lot of info on what you’ve purchased over the years. It also collects your browsing history (which you can delete and turn off), recommendations that it has for you based on what it thinks you like and more. Amazon also tracks your:

Addresses that you’ve sent products to

Wish lists of products and watch lists of movies and shows

Any and all eBooks

Every song you’ve played on Amazon Music ever

Pictures and other files you may have stored on Amazon Drive

Applications you may have downloaded from the Amazon store like Alexa, all of which have your information (location, name, wireless network and more) stored, as well

Ad settings (personalized or not; you can turn this off, too)

All devices you’ve accessed Amazon on (you can de-register from old devices you no longer use)

Both current and expired credit or debit cards you’ve linked to your Amazon account

Any saved WiFi passwords

History of everything you’ve ever asked your Amazon Echo if you have one

Amazon also collects anything and everything that you may have provided it over the years, like your name, email address, zip code, phone number, driver’s license, social security number and more. It automatically knows your time zone, browser, device type, operating system, cookies, length of visits and a few more technical, behavioral data points.

All of your information may be shared with affiliated businesses, too, such as parties that operate an Amazon.com store or sell products through Amazon. Some of your information may also be provided to Amazon partners like when products are delivered, or it may be used in partnership with promotional offers. You can manage your privacy and communication settings in your settings and preferences. You can read about everything that Amazon collects from you on its Privacy Notice page.

Apple

It shouldn’t be a surprise, but Apple tracks a decent amount of your data. The good news is that much of the data it does keep track of is behavioral, like app purchases and software updates.

Sharing of content with friends and family who also have Apple devices and products

Credit requests

Customer support queries

Repairs

Survey participation

Product purchases and serial numbers

Apple forum activity

All Apple stores (iTunes, iBooks, etc.) and iCloud services activity

Apple says that it also collects “non-personal information,” which includes your:

Occupation

Language

Zip code

Unique device identifier (like IP address)

Referrer URL

Location

And time zone

The company says it uses this information to provide a better experience for customers. Some data is transferred to other parties, too, such as your cell phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) or app developers who want to improve their apps, but Apple will always get your explicit consent first.

When it comes to your personal information like your health and fitness, payment options, browsing history, CarPlay and more, Apple says much of it is encrypted, and you may be asked to review a privacy policy before electing to share any of this data with other apps and third-parties of your choosing.

Netflix

If you’re a Netflix customer, then you probably know that it tracks your viewing trends so that it can suggest new shows and movies that you might like. However, it also collects a lot of your personal information, which you may give to Netflix, plus some that is collected automatically. This includes your:

Information from other sources like service providers and government databases

Netflix says it uses this information to provide a better customer experience, including the identification of potentially illegal activities like fraud. It shares some of this info with service providers, promotional partners and law enforcement (upon request), and you may be asked to give explicit consent.

You can request a copy of your personal information that Netflix collects by emailing privacy@netflix.com, and you can learn more via the Privacy Statement on its website. You can manage your privacy settings in your Netflix account on the website as well.

Google

While Google collects a lot of your information through your Gmail account, it also ensures that you control what it does and doesn’t collect. On its Privacy Page, Google explains that it collects information, such as your:

Language preferences

Name and email address

Phone number and payment pieces of information

Content you create in its apps, like emails, photos, spreadsheets, documents, etc.

Browser type and settings

Device type and settings

Mobile phone carrier and settings

IP address

Searches and activity on Google, Chrome, YouTube and other Google-owned apps and websites

Location, WiFi and cookie data

Data from other public sources, such as if your name is in a newspaper article

Google says it uses all of this information to provide a better user experience. One thing that Google offers that these other tech companies don’t is the Privacy Checkup feature where users can answer a few questions and get recommendations on how they can update their individual privacy settings. You can also manage your ad settings, your activity that’s saved to your Google account, your personal information that’s shared with others across Google services, shared endorsements and the information you choose to share via Google+ (does anyone even use that anymore?).

The only time Google shares this information is when you give consent, domain administrators (like your company, if they use a Gmail for work emails) or service providers need it or if law enforcement requests it. Google encrypts all of your data when it’s in transit, too, so that it’s sent safely. Like Facebook, Google allows you to export and download your personal data. You can also delete a lot of your Google information. For even more information, check out Google’s Privacy site.

Be mindful of what information you share with companies, especially on the internet. Protecting your privacy now can help prevent fraud, data breaches and more in the future.

This post was originally published on Swirled.com in the Thrive section, which covers valuable career and personal finance content for Millennials.